Public hearings scheduled for boundary change

Jacksonville City Council will hold public hearings regarding a proposed boundary change.

Daily News graphic

By AMANDA HICKEY Daily News Staff

Published: Monday, September 2, 2013 at 11:00 AM.

Jacksonville City Council will hold a public hearing related to eight areas being removed from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction during its regular meeting this week.

The council is also expected to consider the proposed extraterritorial jurisdiction amendment, which staff recommends it adopts, at Tuesday’s meeting.

According to information from the city, the eight areas to be removed consist of 2,276 properties. The properties were selected for removal based on several factors, including split city/county jurisdiction in the same neighborhood, no proposed expansion of city services or the jurisdiction crossing natural boundaries.

According to the city, requested boundary changes are located south of Southwest Creek, Plum Point or Old Maplehurst Road, Oakhurst Estates, the Northern Gum Branch Road area, Ramsey Road area, Northern Hunters Creek, Birchwood and Belleau Wood, Piney Green Estate and Wynns Country Acres. The
Northern Gum Branch Road
area includes Lauradale, Raintree and
Deerfield
.

If approved, the amendment would eliminate neighborhoods from being partially in the city’s jurisdiction while the rest remains outside of it and, as a result, eliminate potential confusion and conflicts with adjoining properties. The city would lose any potential revenue within the area, including plans and permits, but they would no longer enforce zoning, building codes or other items within the area.

Ryan King, planning and permitting administrator for the City of
Jacksonville
, said residents won’t see a difference in their day-to-day lives as a result of the switch.

Jacksonville City Council will hold a public hearing related to eight areas being removed from the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction during its regular meeting this week.

The council is also expected to consider the proposed extraterritorial jurisdiction amendment, which staff recommends it adopts, at Tuesday’s meeting.

According to information from the city, the eight areas to be removed consist of 2,276 properties. The properties were selected for removal based on several factors, including split city/county jurisdiction in the same neighborhood, no proposed expansion of city services or the jurisdiction crossing natural boundaries.

According to the city, requested boundary changes are located south of Southwest Creek, Plum Point or Old Maplehurst Road, Oakhurst Estates, the Northern Gum Branch Road area, Ramsey Road area, Northern Hunters Creek, Birchwood and Belleau Wood, Piney Green Estate and Wynns Country Acres. The Northern Gum Branch Road area includes Lauradale, Raintree and Deerfield.

If approved, the amendment would eliminate neighborhoods from being partially in the city’s jurisdiction while the rest remains outside of it and, as a result, eliminate potential confusion and conflicts with adjoining properties. The city would lose any potential revenue within the area, including plans and permits, but they would no longer enforce zoning, building codes or other items within the area.

Ryan King, planning and permitting administrator for the City of Jacksonville, said residents won’t see a difference in their day-to-day lives as a result of the switch.

King said that residents in the ETJ area don’t pay city taxes, get city water or sewer or receive assistance from city police or fire, but their land use regulations and zoning fall under city ordinances. If the ETJ removals are approved, residents who want to build on their land or expand their house would use county permits, zoning requirements and inspectors.

“You’re going to wake up tomorrow and there won’t be any difference,” he said.

City and county staff have been working on the proposed ETJ reduction for six months, according to the city. In April the Jacksonville Planning Board recommended approval of the proposed ETJ reduction and in August the Onslow County Planning Board recommended approval of the proposed zoning maps for the areas.

King said that the process began as the city determined which areas they would not be annexing.

According to information from the county, the zoning district boundaries will generally follow property lines and/or natural or man-made features. County staff also says that while there isn’t an exact correspondence between city and county zoning districts, staff selected zoning districts with similar uses, lot sizes and densities as the city zoning in order to maintain the character of each neighborhood as much as possible.

During Tuesday’s meeting, the City Council will also hold a public hearing on a conditional use permit and site plan for a Jacksonville VA Outpatient Clinic, to be located at 4006 Henderson Drive, and discuss appointments to the Recreation and Parks Advisory Committee and Environmental and Appearance Advisory Committee.

The meeting will begin Tuesday at 7 p.m. at JacksonvilleCity Hall, located at 815 New Bridge St in downtown Jacksonville.

The county will hold a public hearing related to the zoning of these areas at its meeting Wednesday night, to be held at 7 p.m. at City Hall. The commissioners may make a decision on the proposed zoning maps after the hearing, according to the meeting agenda.

Amanda Hickey is the government reporter at The Daily News. She can be reached at amanda.hickey@jdnews.com.